A FORMER Chief Executive of Bolton Council received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton.

Margaret Asquith became a Doctor of the University for her outstanding contribution to Bolton.

Margaret, who retired from the top officer role at the local authority earlier this year after three years, said she was delighted to receive the award.

Margaret is a founder trustee of Darlington Support Group for children with Down’s Syndrome and supports the Parkinson’s Foundation, as well as being a fund-raiser for Blackpool Hospice.

The former Director of Children’s Services in Bolton said: “This is hugely exciting and very unexpected.

“It means an incredible amount because I am no longer in a position where I am able to work with partners and do things for the town, but to be recognised by a key partner for the things that we did together for the town is just incredible.

“I love Bolton and loved all the time that I worked and lived here. Hopefully I can keep involved in some things in Bolton and I still keep in touch with various people that I worked with.”

A former head of aerodynamics for the Bretton Formula 1 racing team receive doctorate in Engineering for his outstanding contribution to motorsport engineering.

Willem Toet worked on championship-winning cars in 1994 and 1995 for top racing driver Michael Schumacher.

He is now a consultant for top level motorsport teams, lecturing in universities - including at Bolton - engineering research and motivational speaking.

Willem said: “This is a genuine honour. I teach here part-time as a professor and I love that and to be honoured in this way for me really is a special moment in my life.

“I think the motorsport centre for Bolton and the university in general can be a really positive thing for the long-term future.

“I am looking forward to helping in a small way towards bringing the knowledge level of students up to something that I think can put them at a world leaving level using my knowledge from Formula 1.”

A staunch advocate for community cohesion became a Doctor of the University for his outstanding contribution to the community.

Carl Austin-Behan, who was born and raised in Manchester, joined the RAF as a firefighter at the age of 19 but in 1997 was dismissed as it was deemed that as a homosexual his sexual orientation was “incompatible with service life”.

A former Lord Mayor of Manchester, during which time he raised half a million pounds for the mayor’s charity, he is now an ambassador for Manchester Pride and is passionate about promoting diversity, equality and inclusion within communities.

Carl said he was “proud and honoured” to receive the award.

“I feel that having this award isn’t just recognition for me, it is recognition for the different volunteer groups out there, the different communities, the people who make Greater Manchester the amazing place it is,” he added.